Trump's G2 proposal threatens Indo-Pacific multilateral order
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President Donald Trump's proposed US-China G2 framework reorders the Indo-Pacific around bilateral Washington-Beijing ties and sidelines the Quad coalition of Australia, India, Japan and the United States. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is deepening partnerships with India, Australia, the Philippines and South Korea as she reaffirms a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Pentagon now labels the theater 'Pacific' instead of 'Indo-Pacific'.
Key Facts
- US President Donald Trump proposed a G2 framework comprising only the United States and China.
- The Pentagon now labels the theater 'Pacific' instead of 'Indo-Pacific'.
- The new US National Security Strategy rarely mentions the Quad coalition.
- Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi introduced an updated Indo-Pacific strategy in May focused on regional economic resilience and security.
- Takaichi visited Delhi in July and agreed cooperation with India on AI, critical minerals and defense technologies.
The G2 Proposal
US President Donald Trump has proposed a G2 framework that includes only the United States and China. The new US National Security Strategy rarely mentions the Quad coalition of Australia, India, Japan and the United States. The Pentagon again designates the theater as 'Pacific' rather than 'Indo-Pacific'. The bilateral framework threatens multilateral diplomacy and the influence of middle powers in the region.
Japan's Regional Partnerships
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific. In May she presented an updated strategy focused on regional economic resilience and security. Japan is deepening ties with India and Australia and developing mini-lateral formats with the US, the Philippines and South Korea. India occupies a central place in Japanese strategy, reflected in Takaichi's July visit to Delhi and agreements on AI, critical minerals and defense technologies.
Abe's Concept and the Quad
Ten years ago, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Abe argued that the Indian and Pacific oceans form a single strategic theater and sought a coalition of democracies to prevent dominance by any one power. The United States backed the concept and revived the Quad as the main anchor of the regional balance of power. The coalition was intended to increase US influence by encouraging middle powers to take greater responsibility for regional stability.
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Trump's G2 proposal threatens Indo-Pacific multilateral order
